Chikkamagaluru : Deputy Commissioner S P Shadakshariswamy has directed officials to provide basic facilities to devotees, who visit Inam Dattatreya Peetha on the account of Dattamala Abhiyana.

Chairing a preparatory meeting on Tuesday, he said the Dattamala Abhiyana would be held on October 25. Drinking water facility should be provided for devotees and ambulance and doctors should be deployed to cater to any eventuality.

The BSNL should ensure its mobile phone service at the Peetha and Mescom should provide uninterrupted power supply, Shadakshariswamy added.

The DC said that the road leading to the Peetha should be repaired to facilitate free movement of vehicles and signboards should installed at steep curves. Bus facilities should be introduced to the Peetha for the benefit of devotees. As a precautionary measure, a crane should also be kept ready, he added.

Shadakshariswamy said that cleanliness should be maintained at the Peetha. The use of mobilephone, camera and video camera is banned inside the cave.

Banners and buntings should be erected in Chikkamagaluru after taking permission from local authorities. Sectoral magistrates will be appointed to monitor the arrangements. He directed the police to beef up security in the wake of the Abhiyana.

With the medical shops to remain closed on Wednesday, in protest against the Central goverment’s move to regularise online sale of medicines, the DC directed the DHO to ensure that there was no shortage of medicines.

Zilla Panchayat CEO Dr R Ragapriya, SP K Santhosh Babu and Additional DC M L Vaishali were present.